How to Remove the Roots of Trees

If you have a freshly cut stump in your yard, you’ll have many options for getting rid of that ugly stump. You can dig up the stump, crush it, burn it, or use a chemical to kill the stump. You should choose the method that is most effective for the root system being treated.

Table of Contents

Peach tree stump

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Dig around the roots. Use a shovel to dig close to the base of the tree to expose the roots below the ground. Move around the perimeter of the stump and keep digging until all the large roots are exposed. Dig down both sides of the roots so that the roots are exposed as much as possible.

If the roots seem very large, deep, and difficult to fully expose, you may have to think about another method of root removal. The digging method works best when you can expose as close to the root tip.

Cut roots. Depending on the size of the roots, you can use pruning shears or a saw to cut the roots into pieces. Cut the roots into manageable pieces and pull them out of the ground. Throw the tree pieces in a pile, clearing out as many roots as you can.

You can also use an ax to cut down tree roots, but this is not recommended, because if you hit a rock, the ax will break very dangerously, moreover, the ax is often stuck between the roots if they are not exposed. out completely.

Uproot the tree. Use a hoe to remove the remaining roots. Make more cuts as needed – this will make it easier to uproot. Continue doing this until you have removed all of the main roots, then uproot everything that remains.

Uproot the tree. Once all or most of the roots have been treated, you should be able to dislodge the stump easily. You may need to use a shovel to dig underneath the stump and cut off a few more roots to get the stump up.

Now that the entire stump has been uprooted, you can chop it up and put it in the compost pile.

Crush the stump

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Find the stump grinder. This type of machine can crush the stump and root system of the tree to a depth of about 30 cm below the ground. You can rent stump grinders at places that rent machines by the day. ^{[1] X Research Resources} If you don’t like operating the machine yourself, you can hire someone to bring a stump grinder and do the work for you.

You should wear gloves, goggles, and earplugs if you plan to operate the machine yourself.

Place the mill on top of the tree and start grinding. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, set the mill in position and turn on the mill. The machine will grind on the surface of the stump and move into the ground to crush the roots. You will need to move the machine around the base of the tree to deal with the floating roots.

Scoop out the crushed plant pieces. The condition of the soil will recover faster if you clear away the crushed plant debris. Scoop it up with a shovel and place it in the compost pile or otherwise dispose of it.

Fill the hole. Replace crushed plant clippings with humus or sawdust to fill the hole. Continue adding material as the area will gradually subside. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Burn the stump

Using chemicals to kill tree stumps

Drill holes in the tree stump. Use a drill and large drill bit to drill a series of holes in the surface of the stump. The stump will absorb the chemical through these holes, so make sure you drill the holes evenly spaced.

Use chemical insecticides. Most chemicals that kill stumps are powdered saltpeter (potassium nitrate) that reacts with the wood, quickly softening and rotting the wood. Use a chemical insecticide according to the instructions on the package. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Keep children and pets away from stumps. This chemical can be harmful to children and pets if swallowed, so you need to make sure they don’t get close.

Trace the tree stump. The stump will soften and rot in a few weeks. When you feel that the stump is soft enough and easy to remove, handle the rest of the work.

Cut the tree stump. Use an ax or a shovel to cut down the stump that is now soft, taking out each piece of the tree that has just been cut. Continue doing this until you level the stump.

Burn the rest. Burn the remaining soft wood and let it burn. This will remove what is left of the stump and its roots.

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Replace the ash with humus. Dig up what’s left after the stump burns out and throw it away. Fill the hole with humus or sawdust. Continue adding more material over the next few months until the ground is stable and level.

Advice

Ask someone for help, and don’t rush.
Try cutting off as many roots as you can, then shake the stump out of the soil.
Plan each step carefully.
Anticipate the unexpected before they happen.
If the stump is tall enough, you can tie a rope to the top of the stump and use leverage. Lay back and forth to make the stump loosen.
Make sure the tool is sharp and in good condition.
Call a professional service if all of the above methods fail, .
If this doesn’t work, cut the tree down to the base and burn the stump.

Warning

Wear gloves.
Wear eye protection.
Do not work if you are too tired.
Be careful when using sharp tools such as axes and chainsaws.
Drink plenty of water if you work in hot weather.

Things you need

Peach tree stump

Eye protection glasses
Glove
Tools for sawing branches, pruning trees
Chainsaw (optional)
Hoe
Shovel
Humus or sawdust

Crush the stump

Eye protection, goggles and earplugs
Glove
Tree stump grinder
Shovel
Humus or sawdust

Burn the stump

Firewood/fuel for fire
Shovel
Humus or sawdust

Using chemicals to kill tree stumps

Chemicals that kill tree stumps
Ax (optional)
Shovel
Humus or sawdust

Steps

Peach tree stump

Crush the stump

Burn the stump

Using chemicals to kill tree stumps

Advice

Warning

Things you need

Peach tree stump

Crush the stump

Burn the stump

Using chemicals to kill tree stumps

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